In the 1993 adaptation of Michael Crichton’s novel Rising Sun, set against the backdrop of 1990s America's anxiety regarding Japanese economic supremacy, the protagonist observes Black inner city neighbourhoods and contemplates them as the nation's last bulwark against foreign invasion. It is difficult not to speculate that this provocative statement, born from a specific geopolitical paranoia of the era, might have subtly inspired the thematic core of the 2011 British science fiction horror comedy Attack the Block. While Rising Sun dealt with corporate espionage and political intrigue, Cornish’s film takes that same concept of the underdog inner-city block acting as a desperate fortress against an overwhelming external force, albeit in a far more visceral and comedic guise.
The plot unfolds during Guy Fawkes Night on a predominantly Black council estate in South London, a setting that immediately establishes a gritty, realistic texture. The protagonist is Moses (David Boyega), a 15-year-old who leads a gang of teenage delinquents. These youths make their living through petty crime and occasional muggings, and the film opens with a brutal encounter where they assault Samantha (Jodie Whitakker), a young trainee nurser. The narrative takes a sharp turn when a mysterious object crashes into a nearby car. Seizing the opportunity, Moses and his gang investigate, discovering a strange, dog-size alien creature. Moses dispatches the beast and, initially baffled by its appearance, decides to take it to Ron (Nick Frost), a neighbourhood drug dealer, with a vague idea of selling the story to the media. However, the situation escalates rapidly as more meteors fall from the sky, revealing that the creatures are not solitary but part of a larger, more aggressive invasion. Moses soon finds that his personal troubles—being pursued by the psychopathic gang leader Hi-Hatz (Jumayn Hunter)—are the least of his concerns as the aliens begin hunting them down, killing his dog and friends alike. The group eventually takes shelter at Wyndham Tower, Ron’s fortified apartment which houses his cannabis-growing operation, where they encounter Brewis (Luke Treadaway), a university student who inadvertently provides the solution to their dilemma.
Attack the Block is the directorial debut of Joe Cornish, a comedian best known for his work with Adam Buxton on the popular Adam and Joe Show. Cornish’s background is deeply rooted in British pop culture; he is close friends with Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost, whose cult comedies profoundly influenced the film’s tone. Nick Frost appears in a relatively small role as Ron, anchoring the film with his characteristic charm. Cornish has openly stated that he conceived the film after being mugged in the street. He began wandering the streets wondering what a mugger would do if an alien invasion occurred, and this question became the nucleus of the script. The concept is deceptively simple: it sets the premise of young wannabe gangsters defending their "turf" to the extreme. In this context, their territory is not just a patch of sidewalk but a fortress against hordes of bloodthirsty monsters. What makes this concept absurd at first glance becomes believable through Cornish’s clever writing. He uses the absurdity of the situation to generate genuine humour, particularly in the interactions between Moses and Samantha, who must form an alliance despite having every reason to hate one another. Moreover, the protagonists are forced to fight with improvised weapons—firecrackers, petrol bombs, and samurai swords—rather than conventional firearms, lending the action a tactile, desperate realism.
Despite the modest budget required to bring the film to life, Cornish demonstrates considerable skill in resource management. The alien monsters are brought to the screen through a combination of old-school puppetry, men in suits, and occasional CGI effects, a hybrid approach that gives the creatures a unique, tactile quality that feels more grounded than modern digital effects. The film is not shy about graphic violence; there are several bloody and gory scenes of alien attacks that serve to raise the stakes significantly. Because the cast is comprised largely of unknown actors, the audience is genuinely invested in their survival. There is no guarantee that the gang will make it out of the film alive, which adds a layer of tension to the proceedings.
Cornish also displays a keen eye for homages, filling the film with references to cinema classics like Assault on Precinct 13 and E.T.. Even fans of science fiction literature will appreciate the attention to detail, as the fictional council estate buildings are named after renowned genre authors such as John Wyndham, J.G. Ballard, and Arthur C. Clarke. Beyond these genre nods, there is a layer of social commentary woven into the narrative. One of the characters speculates that the aliens might have been brought to Earth by the government as a means of eliminating "undesirable" poor people from the city. At the very end of the film, Cornish offers visual clues suggesting that the colours and the aggressive stances of the alien monsters are strikingly similar to those of the oppressive armed police, adding a layer of political subtext to the monster fight.
Attack the Block had a modest success at the British box office, but it served as a significant launching pad for its young cast. It helped Joe Cornish secure the directing gig for the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Ant-Man. More importantly, the film was the breakthrough role for John Boyega, who would go on to play Finn in the recent Star Wars sequel trilogy, and for Jodie Whittaker, who would become the first female Doctor Who. In terms of overall quality, Attack the Block is a very well-made film. It is compact, comprehensive, and delivers a proper combination of action, horror, and humour within its hour and a half runtime. The editing is tight, and the pacing rarely lets up. The only potential drawback is the rap soundtrack, which is undeniably catchy but perhaps a little too local and anchored to the specific time period, potentially alienating viewers looking for a more generic blockbuster score. Nevertheless, Attack the Block remains a very good piece of cinema that should be highly recommended to genre aficionados.
RATING: 8/10 (+++)
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